Bronze Tray

A large oval bronze tray, an impressive example of metalwork from the late Ottoman period. The decoration is executed using repoussé (raised work) and chasing (incised finishing), techniques that allow for the creation of relief and finely detailed motifs on metal.
The central field bears vegetal and floral motifs arranged symmetrically, while the surrounding band is ornamented with a repeating border of arches and leaves, all rendered with exceptional detail. The rim of the tray is finished with a peripheral dotted border, the result of meticulous hammer work, which lends volume and aesthetic balance to the object.
Such trays were used both for formal hospitality and as decorative objects in the mansions of Alaya, serving as markers of social prestige and economic prosperity.
Donated to the collection of the Alaya Association by Iro Kourmetzoglou, it is exhibited at the ALAYA Cultural Centre.